Trials of Maharishi Ayurveda for cardiovascular disease: A pooled analysis of outcome studies with carotid intima-media thickness.

Objective: To investigate a multimodality, natural medicine systems approach-Maharishi Ayurveda (MAV)-for prevention or reversal of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Design: Pooled analysis of data from existing trials that used MAV to reduce carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT). Settings: Two large medical centers in the U.S. Midwest. Subjects: Thirty-four elderly patients with or at high risk for ASCVD. Interventions: Four components of MAV: Transcendental Meditation Primary outcome measure: CIMT, a surrogate measure of ASCVD, was determined by B-mode ultrasonography. Results: After 9-12 months of intervention, CIMT declined in the MAV group (change in CIMT = -0.15 ± 0.22 mm; 95% CI = -0.22 to 0.01 mm) and increased in the usual care group (change in CIMT = + 0.02 ± 0.06 mm; 95% CI = -0.02 to 0.04). This difference between groups of -0.17 mm was significant [ Conclusions: The pooled results of these two trials suggest that MAV multimodality intervention programs, including the Transcendental Meditation technique and heart-healthy Ayurvedic diet, exercise, and herbal food supplements, may be effective in the regression of ASCVD, especially in patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease.